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No. 6|5,959. Patented Dec. I3, I898.

A. T. DAWSON & G. T. BUCKHAM. APPARATUS FOB RUNNING GUNS 'IN 0B OUT 0N SHIPBOARD.

(Application filed May 16, 1898.) N u M adel.)

2 S heats-Sheet I l ll No. 6|5,959. Patented Dec. I3= |898. A. T. DAWSON & G. T. BUCKHAM. APPARATUS FDH RUNNTNG GUNS IN 0R DUT 0N SHIPBOABD.

(Application filed M ay 16, 1898.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE..

ARTHUR TREVOR DAWSON AND GEORGE THOMAS BUOKHAM, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNORS TO TI-IE VIOKERS, SONS dt MAXIM, LIMITED, OF

SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR RUNNING GUNS IN OR OUT ON SHIPBOARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 615,959, dated December 13, 1898.

Application led May 16 1898. Serial No. 680,833. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ARTHUR TREvoR DAW- soN and GEORGE THOMAS BUCKHAM, citizens of England, residing at No. 28 Victoria street,

Westminster, London, England, have invented a certain new and useful Apparatus for Running Guns In or Out on Shipboard, (for which we have applied for a patent in Great Britain, dated October 20, 1897, No. 24,263,)

1o of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to means for running a gun inboard when required and out again into position for action. For this purpose we mount at the side of the vessel mounting or turret just under the gun one or more rollers, on which the body of the gun can rest, and under the rear part of the gun we run a cradle-truck which can move along a track on the deck or floor and which is provided with zo winch-gear and a pinion gearing with a rack on the deck or floor. On moving the bushings of the trunnion-bearings so as to present a rearward passage for the trunnions in the known manner, and on slightly raising the n 5 breech of the gun by a screw-plunger on the truck the winch is worked so as to run back the cradle-truck, carrying the rear part of the gun, its front part running on the rollers above mentioned, while the mounting of the 3o gun remains stationary. For running the gun out again the winch is worked in the reverse direction, moving the cradle-truck and gun until the trunnions are again engaged in their bearings, in which they are secured, and

3 5 thereupon the gun is released from the cradletruck, which is run back, leaving the gun on its mounting.

Figure l of the accompanying drawings is a side View of the gun and cradle truck,

4o showing the gun run in. Fig. 2 is a plan of the mounting, the track, and the cradle-truck in its rear position. Fig. 3 is an elevation,

partly in section; and Fig. 4 is a plan of the screw-plunger on the truck, these figures being drawn Lo an enlarged scale.

M is the mounting, having bearings for the trunnions T, these bearings being of the known kind that can be turned to such a position as to present gaps through which the trunnions can pass rearward. On the front of the mounting are mounted a pair of inclined rollers S, on which the body of the gun travels when it is run in or out.

On the deck are xed rails R and between wheel D on a counter-shaft D, on which is a pinion D2, gearing with the pinion R2. On the truck C is fixed a bracket E, having a socket to receive a vertically-sliding plunger P, which is prevented from turning by a feather p, engaged in a groove of the socket. The interior of the plunger is screw-threaded to fit a screw-spindle F, which can be turned in either direction by a ratchet-and-pawl lever G. When it is desired to run in the gun, the trunnion-bearings are put in position to allow the trunnions to pass to the rear. The cradle-truck C is run into position under the breech of the gun. The plunger P is raised by working the pawl-lever G, so as to pass up in front of a bracket which projects down from the breech and to slightly raise the breech, thus taking the weight on the truck. The winch-handles A2 are then worked so as to turn the pinion R2, causing the cradle-truck to move to the rear, taking with it the gun, the body of which as it retreats bears on the rollers S. In order to hold the gun firmly on the cradle-truck, a band His passed over the breech and connected to the sides of the truck by rods H', provided with tightening-nuts H2. The front parts of the rails R are slightly inclined, so that when the cradle-truck has been run under the breech of the gun the first part of the rearward movement of the truck slightly raises the rear part of the gun and the trunnions, giving them freedom to pass out of their bearings.

Having thus described the nature of this invention and the best means we know for carrying the same into practical effect, we claimv Apparatus for running a gun in and out on shipboard, comprising a pair of rails and a rack on deck, a pair of rollers on the gunmounting, a Wheeled cradle-truck on the rails having a plunger engaging in front of a bracket of the gear and pinion gearing With the rack and Winch-handles and gear adapted to cause the pinion to revolve and the truck to travel along the rails carrying the breech of the gun While the body of the gun runs on the rollers of the mounting, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof We have hereunto set I 5 our hands in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

ARTHUR TREVOR DAWSON. GEORGE THOMAS BUOKHAM.

lVitnesses to the signature of Arthur Tre-l vor Dawson:

GEO. W. REA, F. B. KEEFER.

lVitnesses to the signature of George Thomas Buckham:

FRED C. HARRIS, JNO. P. M. MILLARD. 

